Paralells Setup Overview - MacBook

Hey everyone, I convinced my office after donig a keynote presentation on a mac mini to buy a mac.

I did it on a 800 dollar mac mini, my boss loved it.

However, I know to do realistic presentations it's probably ideal to buy a macbook (for portability sake, and get support of playing keynote on a projector while having notes on the laptop if the user wants it).

My boss wanted me to price the costs of the macbook, so she can figure out if it's worth the money or not.

Then add 80 bucks for Paralells, since the office has a couple "easy" programs as I call it, one is a piece of software that takes up 7 megs of RAM in windows, is entirely network-ran... the other is Office.

My question is, do you think 1 gig of RAM in the above setup worth the money? Paralells will run well correct? and when I do presentations there'll be no lag even when splitting the display between the laptop (preview mode) and projector?

A gig of ram is always worth the money, but one thing to check for sure is Parallels, make sure it will run on your system. I just bought a Mac Pro, intel machine and it does not run on it at this time, they are still working on it. Other than that, sounds like a really nice setup...

I dont think MacBooks will run two displays. I think you can use an external display or the MacBook screen, just not both at the same time. I know the iBooks are this way so I would assume the MacBooks are, but please double check I could be wrong.

If you ever did need to run those windows programs, just use bootcamp, then you save yourself $80.

The video output port allows video mirroring, which allows you to see the same image on your MacBook display and on an external monitor, television, or projector. It also allows extended desktop, in which the second display gives you additional desktop real estate. You can use your MacBook in lid closed mode if the computer is connected to an external display, keyboard, and mouse.

I highly recommend Parallels over BootCamp. I've used both extensively and it's definitely worth the (relatively small) expense.

And I would recommend putting as much memory in the machine as you can afford. I have 2 GB in my MacBook and I'm glad I do.

As far as the memory goes... I know this from expeirince... managers want bottom dollar. If she's going to approve or disapprove over a few hundred dollars, get the Macbook with the bare minimum of memory and then get 2 x1gb sticks from someone like Newegg.com. It's cheaper by at least $100.

one thing to check for sure is Parallels, make sure it will run on your system. I just bought a Mac Pro, intel machine and it does not run on it at this time, they are still working on it. Other than that, sounds like a really nice setup...

Er, huh? I have an Intel-based Macbook Pro and I can assure you it runs Parallels excellently.

If I buy the ram on the aftermarket I would have to open up the macbook to put it in right? Is this an easy task and worth the headache compared to just getting it stock for a little more? I've always disliked messing with laptops internally.

If I buy the ram on the aftermarket I would have to open up the macbook to put it in right? Is this an easy task and worth the headache compared to just getting it stock for a little more? I've always disliked messing with laptops internally.

if i can do it, you can prbly sustain a massive head injury and still do it better than i.